Tony LaRussa walked away after winning a title. There doesn't need to be an underlying reason for him walking away. He's turning 69 in two months. That's all the reason he needs.

In the 1970s, Dick Williams walked away from the A's, with a year left on his contract, announcing that he was leaving during network coverage of the postgame celebration of his second straight World Series championship. He didn't retire, though, He went on to manage the Angels and eventually make Bill Melton's life miserable.

Jim Leyland strikes me as someone who wants to retire. It isn't as if the White Sox Sunday uniforms this season filled him with a desire to return to Chicago where he was coaching third under Tony LaRussa for 1983 Western Division Champions.

It will be interesting to see who the Tigers hire to replace him. I wonder if they will hire from within or look for an established guy. Also, how long before the first local article surfaces suggesting the Cubs hire Leyland as manager? I could see Telander or Morrisey being all over this one.

__________________
The very existence of flamethrowers proves that some time, somewhere, someone said to themselves, "You know, I want to set those people over there on fire, but I'm just not close enough to get the job done." -George Carlin

The things I've heard from people talking about the press conference is that he told Dombrowski a month ago that he was going to step down. He's worn out from the grind of travelling, but he's going to keep a position within the Tiger organization.

So no, it doesn't sound like he was fired. I don't think the Tigers are that stupid (unlike a large vocal portion of their fans who get mad at him for silly reasons every time they lose a game).

The Tigers are built to win now, Ozzie loves Cabrera like a son and would jump at the chance to manage him, he's always wanted to manage Victor Martinez too.

He would be extra motivated to keep his mouth shut after the fiasco in Miami and of course this would be his shot with getting even with the Sox (specifically Kenny).

__________________

"I give you five minutes when we get there. Anything happens in that five minutes and I'm yours. No matter what. Anything a minute on either side of that and you're on your own. I don't sit in while you're running it down. I don't carry a gun. I drive."